Theme path trough the Echern Valley in Hallstatt - © Kraft

Explorers, painters, men of literature

Simply thrilling

First you will see pure nature, wild mountain streams and waterfalls, and then the natural wonders of glacial kettle holes, so-called glacial mills. Then we will show you people who have come to the Echerntal. Emperors and Kings, explorers, ramblers and mountain climbers, romantic painters, poets and other literary fi gures, cavers, hunters and poachers. In 1893 a pavilion was erected at the foot of the Waldbachleiten cliffs with a stone commemorating the construction of the bridleway (1880 - 1890).

In 1893 a pavilion (or in the vernacular "Babylon") funded by private donations was erected close to the modern Simony memorial as a small rest house. But in only 1905 a terrible storm destroyed the little house along with the woods in the Echerntal.

This place at the beginning of the bridleway to the Simony hut is still known as "Babylon" by the people of Hallstatt. The picture shows the pavilion and some of its visitors. The names shown and listed here were mounted in the original pavilion and have been partly preserved. (Picture on the left side) The Emperor Franz Josef Bridleway was constructed in honour of Emperor Franz Josef I. It is assumed that the dignitaries listed on the panels were patrons who made the construction of the bridleway possible.

  • Count Carl Batthyanyi, from the Hungarian dynasty of magnates. First mentioned in documents in 1398.
    Count Franz Meran, the son of Anna Plochl and Archduke Johann, was called Count Franz von Meran and was born in 1839.
    Baron Nathaniel von Rotschild Anselm von Rotschild (1803 - 1874), the father of Nathaniel, headed the Rotschild Bank from 1855 1874 and counts as one of the leading bankers at the time of the Imperial and Royal Monarchy.
    Philipp Ritter von Schoeller (1845 - 1916) belonged to one of the most important industrial families of Austria-Hungary. Dr. Friedrich Simony, Vater
    Dr. Oskar Simony, son Hirlatzhöhlen

Out and about on historical paths

During a holiday, you might want to see more than just the famous tourist sites. Sometimes it’s exciting to search out and discover the smaller and more subtle points of interests! A great example are the popular themed trails in Hallstatt. On these paths, you will discover the origins of the history-rich UNESCO World Heritage Region of Hallstatt Dachstein Salzkammergut. Follow in the footsteps of famous painters and acclaimed writers through the wild and romantic Echern Valley or take a historical walk—with or without an audio guide—through the picturesque lanes of Hallstatt. The many themed trails offer the opportunity to combine a long, enjoyable stroll with learning about the historical background of the region. Better yet, the trails can be explored regardless of the season and in most weather conditions. We look forward to seeing you on the popular themed trails throughout the World Heritage Region!

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